I must stare at that text for ten minutes before I answer her. No mention of Sam. No mention of how sex with me “doesn’t have to mean anything.” No response to any of my other asinine text messages. Not even a “good morning.” Do I want her to be a lawyer? I have no idea what that has to do with anything. Why do I give a shit if she’s a lawyer? She can be a lawyer, teacher, doctor, or hell, a fucking astronaut for all I care. She’s certainly smart enough.
Me: I want you to be whatever you want to be. I just want you to be my wife as well.
There. Maybe we can finally be done with trying to circumvent the fact that this marriage is happening.
My beauty: You’ll support me going to law school? Practicing law?
Jesus. What is this about?
Me: The University of Chicago has a top law program. Better than Stanford.
My beauty: Probably equal to Stanford. Not better. But I can apply there.
Okay? Has this been bothering her? I thought she wanted to go to California. The whole part about becoming a lawyer didn’t even register with me.
Me: I wish you would. We can go check out the campus together if you want.
Three dots bounce and stop, repeatedly, for a full minute.
My beauty: Thank you, Liam.
All that typing and that’s it? Oh, hell no. I’m finally onto something with this girl and I’m not letting it go.
Me: Why don’t you come over and we can talk about it? I’d like to see you.
My beauty: I just got out of the shower, so I need a little time. I can come by later.
Me: The idea of you not dressed is okay with me. Maybe I’ll come there. Help you dry off.
Seems I can’t help myself.
My beauty: As much as I like the idea of that, I’ll stop by in about an hour.
As much as she likes the idea of that? I shift in my seat. I’m getting hard. Fuck.
Me: You’d like that, huh? You have no idea how much I like hearing that.
My beauty: Maybe you can show me later.
Holy. Fuck. Wait a minute…
Me: Did someone steal your phone?
My beauty: LOL. No. It’s me. Been reevaluating things, that’s all.
My mouth has gone dry.
Me: Get your pretty ass over here so we can reevaluate together.
My beauty: See you soon.
I head to work out so that I can get some of this adrenaline out of my system. I already hit the weights when I woke up today, but if I don’t work off some of this energy, I might maul her when she finally walks through the door.
Exactly an hour later, Danny comes to our basement gym with a smile on his face to let me know she’s here. He and my brother have had to deal with my grumpy ass the last few days. I’m sure he’s delighted that there’s a chance Taryn and I will talk this out.
I reach for my shirt but decide against it. It may be petty to show her what she’s been missing, but I parade upstairs in just my joggers and sneakers. I won’t be winning any awards for subtlety. As if she knows my intent, my fiancée rakes her eyes over me before shaking her head with a smirk.
“I hoped we could talk.” Her voice is strong. She isn’t the timid girl I expected. There’s a fire in her eyes that I wasn’t counting on. She sounds determined.
